Image playback apparatus, image recording/playback apparatus, control methods of these apparatuses, program, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

It is an object of this invention to allow easy recognition of the contents of a motion image file when INDEX is displayed. To achieve this object, an image playback apparatus includes a playback device adapted to play back from a recording medium a plurality of image files each having motion image data, a display device having a function of displaying on the same screen representative images of a plurality of image files recorded on the recording medium by using the image files played back by the playback device, a selecting device adapted to select an arbitrary one of the plurality of representative images displayed on the display device, and a control device adapted to control the playback device and the display device such that the display form of the representative image selected by the selecting device differs from the display form of other representative images.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an image playback apparatus orimage recording/playback apparatus capable of random access and having afunction of displaying a list in which reduced images of recorded imagefiles are arranged into a predetermined array.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Conventionally, apparatuses which record and play back both stillimage files and motion image files on and from a memory card, disk, andanother removable disk are known. Some apparatuses of this type have afunction of displaying a list (INDEX) in which reduced images(thumbnails) of individual files are arranged into a predetermined arrayform.

[0003] The contents of an image of a still image file can be recognizedat once by a thumbnail. For a motion image, however, only the firstframe is usually displayed in a reduced scale as a thumbnail, so thecontents of the whole motion image are difficult to recognize. To checkthe contents of a motion image file, the motion image file must beplayed back from the beginning. This makes file search time-consuming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention, therefore, has been made in considerationof the above situation, and has as its object to allow easy recognitionof the contents of a motion image file when INDEX is displayed.

[0005] To solve the above problem and achieve the object, according to afirst aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imageplayback apparatus comprising a playback device adapted to play backfrom a recording medium a plurality of image files each having motionimage data, a display device having a function of displaying on the samescreen representative images of a plurality of image files recorded onthe recording medium by using the image files played back by theplayback device, a selecting device adapted to select a desiredrepresentative image from the plurality of representative imagesdisplayed on the display device, and a control device adapted to controlthe playback device and the display device such that a display form ofthe representative image selected by the selecting device differs from adisplay form of other representative images.

[0006] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an image playback apparatus control method of controlling animage playback apparatus comprising a playback device adapted to playback from a recording medium a plurality of image files each havingmotion image data, a display device having a function of displaying onthe same screen representative images of a plurality of image filesrecorded on said recording medium by using the image files played backby the playback device, and a selecting device adapted to select adesired representative image from the plurality of representative imagesdisplayed on the display device, wherein the playback device and thedisplay device are controlled such that a display form of therepresentative image selected by the selecting device differs from adisplay form of other representative images.

[0007] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a program for allowing a computer to execute the image playbackapparatus control method described above.

[0008] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a storage medium storing the program described above in acomputer readable form.

[0009] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an image recording/playback apparatus comprising an imagesensing device adapted to sense a motion image, a sound input deviceadapted to input a sound, a recording medium adapted to record a subsound input from said sound input device in an image sensing standbystate for the motion image, a main sound input from the sound inputdevice while the motion image is being sensed, and the motion imagesensed by the image sensing device, a display device having a functionof displaying, in a predetermined array form, a list of representativeimages of a predetermined number of image files of a plurality of imagefiles recorded on the recording medium, a selecting device adapted toselect at least one of the representative images of the predeterminednumber of image files displayed on the display device, a sound playbackdevice adapted to play back the sound recorded on the recording medium;and a control device which, when at least one image is selected by theselecting device, controls the sound playback device to play back a subsound corresponding to the selected image file.

[0010] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an image recording/playback apparatus control method ofcontrolling an image recording/playback apparatus comprising an imagesensing device adapted to sense a motion image, a sound input deviceadapted to input a sound, a recording medium adapted to record a subsound input from the sound input device in an image sensing standbystate for the motion image, a main sound input from the sound inputdevice while the motion image is being sensed, and the motion imagesensed by the image sensing device, a display device having a functionof displaying, in a predetermined array form, a list of representativeimages of a predetermined number of image files of a plurality of imagefiles recorded on the recording medium, a selecting device adapted toselect at least one of the representative images of the predeterminednumber of image files displayed on the display device, and a soundplayback device adapted to play back the sound recorded on the recordingmedium, wherein when at least one image is selected by the selectingdevice, the sound playback device is so controlled as to play back a subsound corresponding to the selected image file.

[0011] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a program for allowing a computer to execute the imagerecording/playback apparatus control method described above.

[0012] According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a storage medium storing the program described above in acomputer readable form.

[0013] Other objects and advantages besides those discussed above shallbe apparent to those skilled in the art from the description of apreferred embodiment of the invention which follows. In the description,reference is made to accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof,and which illustrate an example of the invention. Such example, however,is not exhaustive of the various embodiments of the invention, andtherefore reference is made to the claims which follow the descriptionfor determining the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an image playback apparatusaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is aview showing examples of INDEX motion image playback;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of a systemcontroller for executing an INDEX motion image playback method of thefirst embodiment;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a view showing the INDEX motion image playback method ofthe first embodiment;

[0018]FIG. 5 is a view showing an example in which an image is selectedduring INDEX motion image playback;

[0019]FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation of a systemcontroller when an image is selected during INDEX motion image playback;

[0020]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a playbackportion of the fourth embodiment;

[0021]FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a motion image/soundrecording/playback apparatus according to the fourth embodiment; and

[0022]FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of display of a listcontaining a plurality of scenes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now bedescribed in detail in accordance with the accompanying drawings.

[0024] First Embodiment

[0025]FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an image playbackapparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2 is a view showing INDEX motion image playback of the firstembodiment. FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of a systemcontroller 11 for executing an INDEX motion image playback method of thefirst embodiment. FIG. 4 isa view showing the INDEX motion imageplayback method in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a view showing the way an image isselected during INDEX motion image playback of the first embodiment.FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation of the system controller 11when an image is selected during INDEX motion image playback shown inFIG. 5.

[0026] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes the system controller forcontrolling the whole image playback apparatus; 12, a resizing unit forreducing and enlarging an image size; 13, a decoder for expandingcompressed image data; 14, a display such as a liquid crystal displayfor displaying an image; 15, operation keys as an interface with a user;16, an image memory for recording and holding image data processed bythe resizing unit 12 and decoder 13; 17, an interface (I/F) with arecording medium; and 18, a recording medium such as a disk which can berandomly accessed.

[0027] In normal playback, the I/F 17 reads out data from the recordingmedium 18. The decoder 13 decodes and expands the readout data, andrasterizes the expanded data on the image memory 16. The resizing unit12 reads out the rasterized image data, and displays the readout data onthe display 14 after enlarging or reducing the data.

[0028]FIG. 2 is a view showing INDEX motion image playback according tothe first embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 2, 2-1 shows simultaneous playback of six INDEXmotion images on the display 14. Letting T be the frame rate (the numberof frames to be updated per unit time) when each of the six motionimages is normally played back, the frame rate is set to T/6 duringINDEX motion image playback. In this manner, thinning playback of theoriginal image of each of the six motion images is performed tosimultaneously display six frames of images reduced by the resizing unit12. Since the frame rate is T/6, the load on the decoder 13 of the imageplayback apparatus is equal to that of normal playback.

[0030]2-2 shows simultaneous playback of nine motion image files on thedisplay 14. Letting T be the frame rate when each of the nine motionimages is normally played back, the frame rate is set to T/9 duringINDEX motion image playback. In this manner, thinning playback of theoriginal image of each of the nine motion images is performed tosimultaneously display nine frames of images reduced by the resizingunit 12. Since the frame rate is T/9, the load on the decoder 13 of theimage playback apparatus is equal to that of normal playback, as in thecase of 2-1.

[0031]2-3 shows playback of nine image files on the display 14. Assumethat these nine image files to be displayed include three motion imagefiles and six still image files. Letting T be the frame rate when eachof the three motion images is normally played back, the frame rate isset to T/3 during INDEX motion image playback. In this manner, thinningplayback of the original image of each of the three motion images isperformed to simultaneously display three frames of images reduced bythe resizing unit 12. For the still image files, initially displayedimages are kept displayed even during INDEX motion image playback. Eachstill image is decoded only when it is displayed for the first time, andthe frame rate of each motion image file is T/3. Therefore, the load onthe decoder 13 of the image playback apparatus is equal to that ofnormal playback.

[0032] During INDEX motion image playback as described above, the framerate is changed in accordance with the number of motion image files tobe displayed on the display 14. Consequently, a plurality of motionimage files can be played back while the load on the decoder 13 of theimage playback apparatus remains the same.

[0033] The basic operation of the image playback apparatus will beexplained below.

[0034] First, when a recorded recording medium is set in the imageplayback apparatus and playback is started, the operation proceeds toindex list display, and index images are displayed on the display 14 asshown in FIG. 2. In this state, a user can move a cursor on the screento select a given one of the displayed index images. By operating adetermination key or the like after thus selecting the image by thecursor, the user can playback only the selected image file.

[0035]FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of the systemcontroller 11 for executing the INDEX motion image playback method ofthe first embodiment.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 3, let T be the frame rate when a motion imagefile is normally played back, and Ti be the frame rate when INDEX motionimage playback is performed. If the number of motion image files to besimultaneously played back on the display 14 is N, Ti=T/N. Let n (N≧n)be the number of a motion image file to be played back by INDEX motionimage playback, and t[n] be a thinning frame rate.

[0037] First, n is reset to 1 (step S300). The system controller 11calculates, from the nth motion image file, a frame rate T1 when only Ipictures are played back, and substitutes T1 for t[n] (step S301). Thesystem controller 11 then determines whether T1 calculated in step S301satisfies Ti≧t[n] (step S302). If NO in step S302, the system controller11 calculates a frame rate T2 (T2=t/2) by further subtracting I picturesfrom the frame rate t[n] of only the I picture, and substitutes T2 fort[n] (step S303). The system controller 11 determines whether T2calculated in step S303 satisfies Ti≧t[n] (step S304). If NO in stepS304, the flow returns to step S303 to calculate the thinning frame rateT2 again. If YES in step S302 or in step S304, the system controller 11substitutes n+1 for n (step S305), and determines whether n>N (stepsS306). If NO in step S306, the flow returns to step S301. If YES in stepS306, the system controller 11 performs image playback by thinning Nmotion image files by the frame rate t[n] (the frame rate of the firstmotion image file is T[1]), thereby displaying images reduced by theresizing unit 12 on the display 14 at the frame rate Ti (step S307).

[0038] INDEX motion image playback is performed by the above operation.

[0039]FIG. 4 is a view showing the INDEX motion image playback methodshown in FIG. 3.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 4, if the frame rate of normal playback is Tand the number N of motion image files to be simultaneously played backis 6, the frame rate of INDEX motion image playback is T/6. n is thenumber of a file currently being processed, and the thinning playbackframe rate t[n] corresponds to n.

[0041]4-1 shows a normal playback method in which I, B, and P picturesare played back. When only I pictures are played back from normalplayback shown in 4-1, the frame rate is as shown in 4-2. That is, theframe rate t[n] is T/4. Since Ti≧t[n] does not hold, thinning to ½ isperformed from 4-2. The result is as shown in 4-3. The frame rate t[n]in 4-3 is T/8. Since Ti≧t[n], this motion image file is played back by athinning playback method using T2. This processing is performed forevery N (N=6) files.

[0042] When the thinning playback frame rate t[n] for N files isdetermined, INDEX motion image playback is performed. 4-4 shows thisplayback. That is, thinning playback is performed using t[n] calculatedin 4-3, and images reduced by the resizing unit 12 are displayed at theframe rate Ti.

[0043]FIG. 5 is a view showing an example in which an image is selectedduring INDEX motion image playback of the first embodiment.

[0044] When INDEX motion image playback is to be performed, the thinningplayback frame rate of a selected file (designated by the cursor) ismade higher than those of other nonselected files (not designated by thecursor). For example, if the number of INDEX motion image files to bedisplayed is 6 as shown in FIG. 5, INDEX motion image playback isperformed by setting the thinning playback frame rate of a selectedmotion image file to T/2, and that of nonselected motion image files toT/(2×6 (the number of images to be displayed))=T/12.

[0045]FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation of the systemcontroller 11 when an image is selected during INDEX motion imageplayback shown in FIG. 5.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 6, let T be the frame rate when a motion imagefile is normally played back, and Ti be the frame rate when INDEX motionimage playback is performed. Also, let N be the number of motion imagefiles to be simultaneously played back on the display 14, n (N≧n) be thenumber of a motion image file to be played back by INDEX motion imageplayback, and t[n] be the thinning frame rate.

[0047] First, n is reset to 1 (step S600). The system controller 11determines whether the nth file is currently being selected (step S601).If YES in step S601, T/2 is substituted for Ti (step S602). If NO instep S601, T/(2×N) is substituted for Ti (step S602). The systemcontroller 11 calculates, from the nth motion image file, a frame rateT1 when only I pictures are played back, and substitutes T1 for t[n](step S604). The system controller 11 determines whether T1 calculatedin step S604 satisfies Ti≧t[n] (step S605). If NO in step S605, thesystem controller 11 calculates a frame rate T2 (T2=t/2) by furthersubtracting I pictures from the frame rate t[n] of only the I pictures,and substitutes T2 for t[n] (step S606). The system controller 11 thendetermines whether the frame rate T2 calculated in step S605 satisfiesTi≧t[n] (step S607). If NO in step S607, the flow returns to step S606to calculate the thinning frame rate T2 again. If YES in step S605 or instep S607, the system controller substitutes n+1 for n (step S608), anddetermines whether n>N (step S609). If NO in step S609, the flow returnsto step S601. If YES in step S609, the system controller 11 performsimage playback by thinning N motion image files by the frame rate t[n](the frame rate of the first motion image file is T[1]). That is, thesystem controller 11 displays images reduced by the resizing unit 12 onthe display 14 such that the frame rate of a selected file is T/2 andthe frame rate of nonselected files is T/(2×N) (step S610).

[0048] By the above operation, the playback frame rate of a fileselected in INDEX motion image playback is increased.

[0049] Second Embodiment

[0050] In the above first embodiment, the INDEX motion image playbackframe rate is determined in accordance with the number of motion imagefiles to be displayed on the screen. However, if still images and motionimages are mixed, the INDEX motion image playback frame rate can also bedetermined in accordance with the number of image files (of both stillimages and motion images) to be displayed.

[0051] Third Embodiment

[0052] In the above first embodiment, a selected motion image file isplayed back by increasing the frame rate, and nonselected motion imagefiles are played back by decreasing the frame rate. However, it is alsopossible to display a motion image of only a selected motion image file,and display only a representative image, in the form of a still image,for each nonselected motion image file.

[0053] As described above, the first to third embodiments can implementINDEX motion image playback by which a plurality of thinned motion imagefiles can be simultaneously played back and displayed by using thecalculated frame rate. Therefore, a user can recognize the contents of aplurality of motion image files at the same time. Also, the frame rateof a selected motion image file can be made higher than that ofnonselected motion image files. This allows a user to recognize detailsof the contents of an image recorded in the selected file.

[0054] Fourth Embodiment

[0055] The fourth embodiment can perform image INDEX display as in thefirst embodiment and can also output sounds at the same time.Additionally, the fourth embodiment has not only a function of playingback images and sounds but also a function of recording them. In thisembodiment, all images to be played back by INDEX display can be stillimages.

[0056]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a playbackportion of the fourth embodiment, in which a sound playback unit 200 isadded to the arrangement of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

[0057]FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a motion image/soundrecording/playback apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of thepresent invention. The playback portion shown in FIG. 7 is illustratedin more detail in FIG. 8.

[0058] In FIG. 8, reference numeral 101 denotes an image sensing devicefor converting an image into an electrical signal; 102, a microphone forconverting a sound into an electrical signal; 103, a recording imageprocessor for converting an output image signal from the image sensingdevice 101 into a predetermined format to record the signal; 104, asound buffer for temporarily storing a sound signal of a predeterminedtime; 105, a recoding sub sound processor for converting a sub soundsignal into a predetermined format to record the signal; 106, arecording main sound processor for converting a main sound signal into apredetermined format to record the signal; 107, a switch for selectivelyoutputting the output sound signal from the microphone 102 to the soundbuffer 104 and recording main sound processor 106; 108, an image/soundmultiplexer for multiplexing the output recording image signal from therecording image processor 103, the output sub sound signal from therecording sub sound processor 105, and the output main sound signal fromthe recording main sound processor 106; 109, a recording device forrecording the output recording signal from the image/sound multiplexer108 on a recording medium 110; 111, a playback device for playing backthe output playback signal from the recording medium 110; 112, animage/sound separator for separating the output playback signal from theplayback device 111 into an image signal, main sound signal, and subsound signal; 113, a playback main sound processor for processing theoutput main sound signal from the image/sound separator 112; 114, aplayback sub sound processor for processing the output sub sound signalfrom the image/sound separator 112; 115, a playback image signalprocessor for processing the output image signal from the image/soundseparator 112; 116, a switch for selectively outputting the output mainsound signal from the playback main sound processor 113 and the outputsub sound signal from the playback sub sound processor 114; 117, aloudspeaker for outputting the output sound signal from the switch 116;118, a monitor for outputting the output image signal from the playbackimage signal processor 115; and 119, a system controller for controllingthe individual functional circuits.

[0059] The operation of the fourth embodiment will be explained below.

[0060] Recording

[0061] When the motion image/sound recording/playback apparatus is setin a recording mode by an operation by the user, a recording standbystate starts, and the system controller 119 so switches the switch 107as to output an output sound signal from the microphone 102 to the soundbuffer 104. The sound buffer 104 is always updated by a new sound signalto store the latest sound signal of a predetermined time. Beforestarting recording, the user stores in the sound buffer 104 a sound suchas an explanation of an image to be sensed.

[0062] When recording is started by an operation by the user, the systemcontroller 119 so switches the switch 107 as to output an output soundsignal from the microphone 102 to the recording main sound processor106. At the same time, the system controller 119 stops updating of thesound signal in the sound buffer 104. The sound signal stored in thesound buffer 104 is converted into a predetermined format and output asa sub sound signal to the image/sound multiplexer 108 by the recordingsub sound processor 105. Also, the output sound signal from themicrophone 102 is converted into a predetermined format and output as amain sound signal to the image/sound multiplexer 108 by the recordingmain signal processor 106. An output image signal from the image sensingdevice 101 is converted into a predetermined format and output as animage signal to the image/sound multiplexer 108 by the recording imageprocessor 103. The image/sound multiplexer 108 multiplexes the imagesignal, main sound signal, and sub sound signal, and outputs themultiplexed signal to the recording device 109. The recording device 109records the multiplexed signal on the recording medium 110.

[0063] When the predetermined-time signal stored in the sound buffer 104is completely recorded, recording of the sub sound signal is stopped,and the image signal and main sound signal are recorded on the recordingmedium 110.

[0064] Playback

[0065] When the motion image/sound recording/playback apparatus is setin a playback mode by an operation by the user, the playback device 111plays back the first frame signal of a plurality of scenes recorded onthe recording medium 110, and outputs the signal to the image/soundseparator 112. The image/sound separator 112 separates the outputplayback signal from the playback device 111 into an image signal, mainsound signal, and sub sound signal. The playback image processor 115processes the output image signal from the image/sound separator 112,generates image data indicating an INDEX image as described previously,and outputs the generated image data to the monitor 118. For example, ascene selecting list as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed.

[0066] When one of a plurality of scenes in the displayed list isselected by an operation by the user, the playback device 111 plays backa signal of the selected scene, and the playback sub sound processor 114processes the output sub sound signal from the image/sound separator 112to convert the signal into a playable sound signal. The systemcontroller 119 so switches the switch 116 as to output the output signalfrom the playback sub sound processor 114 to the loudspeaker 117. Theloudspeaker 117 outputs the output playable sound signal from theplayback sub sound processor 114.

[0067] If no sub sound signal is recorded in the scene selected by theuser, the image/sound separator 112 detects that no sub sound signal isrecorded, and notifies the system controller 119 of this information.When receiving this notification indicating that no sub sound signal isrecorded in the selected scene, the system controller 119 so switchesthe switch 116 as to output the output signal from the playback mainsound processor 113 to the loudspeaker 117. The playback main soundprocessor 113 processes the output main sound signal from theimage/sound separator 112 to convert the signal into a playable soundsignal. Since the switch 116 is so switched as to output the outputsignal from the playback main sound processor 113 to the loudspeaker117, the main sound signal of the selected scene is output from theloudspeaker 117. In addition, if no sub sound signal is recorded in thescene selected by the user, a message is displayed to prompt the user torecord a sub sound signal to be output when the scene is selected fromthe displayed list.

[0068] As described above, the fourth embodiment can provide a motionimage/sound recording/playback apparatus by which a user can easilyselect a desired scene from a recording medium recording a plurality ofscenes without any complicated operation.

[0069] Other Embodiments

[0070] The present invention can be applied to a system constituted by aplurality of devices (e.g., a host computer, interface, reader, andprinter) or to an apparatus (e.g., a copying machine or facsimileapparatus) comprising a single device.

[0071] Further, the object of the present invention can also be achievedby supplying a storage medium (or a recording medium) recording programcodes of software for implementing the functions of the aboveembodiments to a system or apparatus, and reading out and executing theprogram codes stored in the storage medium by a computer (or a CPU orMPU) of the system or apparatus. In this case, the program codes readout from the storage medium implement the functions of the embodiments,and the storage medium storing these program codes constitutes theinvention. Also, besides the functions of the above embodiments areimplemented by executing the readout program codes by the computer, thepresent invention includes a case where an OS (Operating System) or thelike running on the computer performs part or the whole of actualprocessing in accordance with designations by the program codes andthereby implements the functions of the above embodiments.

[0072] Furthermore, the present invention includes a case where theprogram codes read out from the storage medium are written in a memoryof a function expansion card inserted into the computer or of a functionexpansion unit connected to the computer, and, in accordance withdesignations by the program codes, a CPU or the like of the functionexpansion card or function expansion unit performs part or the whole ofactual processing and thereby implements the functions of the aboveembodiments.

[0073] When the present invention is applied to the storage mediumdescribed above, this storage medium stores program codes correspondingthe flow charts explained previously.

[0074] As has been described above, each embodiment allows a user toreadily recognize the contents of a motion image file when INDEX isdisplayed.

[0075] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments andvarious changes and modifications can be made within the spirit andscope of the present invention. Therefore, to apprise the public of thescope of the present invention, the following claims are made.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image playback apparatus comprising: aplayback device adapted to play back from a recording medium a pluralityof image files each having motion image data; a display device having afunction of displaying on the same screen representative images of aplurality of image files recorded on said recording medium by using theimage files played back by said playback device; a selecting deviceadapted to select a desired representative image from the plurality ofrepresentative images displayed on said display device; and a controldevice adapted to control said playback device and said display devicesuch that a display form of the representative image selected by saidselecting device differs from a display form of other representativeimages.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image filehas an audio data corresponding to the motion image data and saidcontrol device controls said playback device so as to play back theaudio data of the image file corresponding to the selectedrepresentative image and to output to a speaker device.
 3. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said control device controls said playbackdevice and said display device such that a playback frame rate of theselected representative image differs from a playback frame rate of theother representative images.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3,wherein said control device makes the playback frame rate of theselected representative image higher than the playback frame rate of theother representative images.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 3,wherein said control device displays the selected representative imageas a motion image, and the other representative images as still images.6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control devicedetermines a playback frame rate of the plurality of representativeimages in accordance with the number of the representative images to bedisplayed on the same display screen.
 7. An image playback apparatuscontrol method of controlling an image playback apparatus comprising aplayback device adapted to play back from a recording medium a pluralityof image files each having motion image data, a display device having afunction of displaying on the same screen representative images of aplurality of image files recorded on said recording medium by using theimage files played back by said playback device, and a selecting deviceadapted to select a desired representative image from the plurality ofrepresentative images displayed on said display device, wherein saidplayback device and said display device are controlled such that adisplay form of the representative image selected by said selectingdevice differs from a display form of other representative images.
 8. Amethod according to claim 7, wherein the image file has an audio datacorresponding to the motion image data and said playback device iscontrolled so as to play back the audio data of the image filecorresponding to the selected representative image and to output to aspeaker device.
 9. A method according to claim 7, wherein a playbackframe rate of the selected representative image differs from a playbackframe rate of the other representative images.
 10. A program forallowing a computer to execute an image playback apparatus controlmethod cited in claim
 7. 11. A program for allowing a computer toexecute an image playback apparatus control method cited in claim
 9. 12.A storage medium storing a program cited in claim 10 in a computerreadable form.
 13. A storage medium storing a program cited in claim 11in a computer readable form.
 14. An image recording/playback apparatuscomprising: an image sensing device adapted to sense a motion image; asound input device adapted to input a sound; a recording medium adaptedto record a sub sound input from said sound input device in an imagesensing standby state for the motion image, a main sound input from saidsound input device while the motion image is being sensed, and themotion image sensed by said image sensing device; a display devicehaving a function of displaying, in a predetermined array form, a listof representative images of a predetermined number of image files of aplurality of image files recorded on said recording medium; a selectingdevice adapted to select at least one of the representative images ofthe predetermined number of image files displayed on the display device;a sound playback device adapted to play back the sound recorded on saidrecording medium; and a control device which, when at least one image isselected by said selecting device, controls said sound playback deviceto play back a sub sound corresponding to the selected image file. 15.The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein if no sub sound isrecorded, said control device plays back a main sound corresponding tothe selected image file.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 15,further comprising a display device which demands recording of a subsound if no sub sound is recorded.
 17. An image recording/playbackapparatus control method of controlling an image recording/playbackapparatus comprising an image sensing device adapted to sense a motionimage, a sound input device adapted to input a sound, a recording mediumadapted to record a sub sound input from the sound input device in animage sensing standby state for the motion image, a main sound inputfrom the sound input device while the motion image is being sensed, andthe motion image sensed by the image sensing device, a display devicehaving a function of displaying, in a predetermined array form, a listof representative images of a predetermined number of image files of aplurality of image files recorded on the recording medium, a selectingdevice adapted to select at least one of the representative images ofthe predetermined number of image files displayed on the display device,and a sound playback device adapted to play back the sound recorded onthe recording medium, wherein when at least one image is selected by theselecting device, the sound playback device is so controlled as to playback a sub sound corresponding to the selected image file.
 18. Themethod according to claim 17, wherein if no sub sound is recorded, amain sound corresponding to the selected image file is played back. 19.The method according to claim 18, wherein if no sub sound is recorded, amessage demanding recording of a sub sound is displayed.
 20. A programfor allowing a computer to execute an image recording/playback apparatuscontrol method cited in claim
 17. 21. A storage medium storing a programcited in claim 20 in a computer readable form.